2 students speaking with professor in office

LL.M. in Elder Law - Curriculum

Students in the Elder Law LL.M. program will complete these required courses:

  • Aging and the Law
  • Long-Term Care Planning
  • Tax and the Elder Law Client
  • Ethics in the Practice of Elder Law
  • Guardianship and Alternatives
  • Retirement Planning
  • Select Topics in Elder Law (Three-day on-campus course taken in the student's first Fall semester)

Students must take six credit hours of electives and may choose from the following courses:

  • Disability Law* 
  • Government and Private Health Benefits
  • Estate Planning and Drafting 
  • Veterans' Benefits

See Course Descriptions for more details on the above courses.

*Long-Term Care Planning is required, but with the approval of the Director of the LL.M. in Elder Law, Disability Law may be substituted (effective Fall semester 2012). 

By taking two courses per semester, students can complete the requirements for the LL.M. degree within four semesters. Candidates must satisfactorily complete 25 hours of academic credit and will take no more than three classes per semester. Most classes are three credits.

Examinations

Most of the courses will require a final examination. Open-book examinations will most often be offered electronically. The Registrar's Office will provide details.

Grades

Students in the LL.M. in Elder Law are graded on an honors basis. Possible grades include High Honors, Honors, Pass, Credit and Fail. On a 4.0 scale:

  • High Honors is the equivalent of grades 3.5 and higher
  • Honors is 3.0-3.25
  • Pass is 2.0-2.75 
  • Credit is 1.25-1.75
  • Fail is a grade below 1.25.